My father, Edward Koh, is in the late stages of kidney failure and urgently needs a transplant. He is a retired doctor who dedicated his 37 year practice to helping others, no matter their circumstances. He also spent four years caring for my mother during her battle with ovarian cancer until she passed away in 2021. Now it's our turn to take care of him.
Unfortunately due to my own health issues, I have not been green-lit by my doctors to donate my own kidney. There are currently nearly 90,000 people on the national transplant list waiting for a "deceased donor" kidney. The average wait time is up to five years. Sadly, we don't have that kind of time. So we've decided to take the search public!
From what I've learned, kidney donation is very safe. In fact, many people are born with just one kidney and go on to live long, healthy lives. The risk to a donor's long-term health is considered very low, and as I have learned, doctors will only approve donation if they believe it is safe for you personally.
My dad will not go down without a fight. After suffering a cardiac arrest seven years ago, he made a full recovery and has passed all the necessary health evaluations to be eligible for a kidney transplant. A new kidney would give him the second chance he deserves. A chance to enjoy his hard-earned retirement, to care for his newly adopted rescue dog Bentley, to play with his granddaughters, and to continue writing his blog, "Short Life Stories" (edwardtkoh.substack.com).
All medical testing and procedures related to donation are fully covered by the recipient's health insurance. Although my father lives in the Greater Boston area, donors from anywhere in the U.S. are welcome.
It's very important to me that no one feels any pressure to donate. But if you're open to learning more or think you might be able to help, please don't hesitate to reach out.
